How to Research Investments

By Staff Reporter

May 06, 2020 05:05 PM EDT

How to Research Investments(Unsplash) (Credit: Getty Image)

When it comes to your retirement you want to live the same quality of life you enjoy today. The good news is that there are paper investments such as stocks and bonds and tangible investments like real estate and gold. However, most people have very little knowledge when it comes to investing their money. Listed below are a few ways to research your future investments prior to the actual purchase.

Investing in Stocks

Family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers all have an opinion when it comes to investing in stocks. However, it's your hard-earned money that may go up in flames. Instead of relying on word of mouth or a get-rich-quick suggested stock, why not do the research on your own? There are many websites, some free and some that charge a fee, that you can access to gain valuable knowledge. Most of the sites are quite lengthy as they contain a wealth of knowledge on various stocks. Instead of just taking a quick glance, use web capture which allows you to copy the entire web page or pages and store them in an app. This way you can move from one site to the next and then have all the information obtained together for easy reading.

Investing in Tangibles

One of the most common tangible investments that people make is their own property. If you purchase a property now, you can use it for rental income and, when you retire, sell it to fund your retirement. When going it alone you may stumble upon a property of interest that is in foreclosure. However, when trying to locate the actual owner to make a deal, you can't find them. The good news is that there are companies that specialize in skip tracing to help you find the owner. On a positive note, most real estate properties contain a wealth of information on the actual listing page. In addition, you can check with a realtor with regard to the area and whether or not it's a good investment. 

Popular Collectables

Collectibles such as rare coins, baseball cards, toys, and records are just a few examples of things people collect for their retirement. Aside from rare coins, gold, and gems, which more than likely will increase in value over time, other collectibles are riskier. They fall into the category of supply and demand. If you are fortunate, when you're ready to sell, someone is very interested and willing to pay a good price. Otherwise, these types of investments won't provide the wealth you anticipate. With regard to research, the library, auction sites, and experts in the field found at sites like The Spruce, will provide valuable information on different types of collectibles helping you make a well-informed decision. 

Safe Investments That Require Little or No Research

There are investments that may not produce a substantial return on your investment, however, they are safe. If you want to place it safely, savings bonds, CDs and notes issued by the United States Treasury, are good investments. They have the backing of the United States government, which puts them in the safest category. You can find a pamphlet at your local bank or obtain information online. 

Best Practice for Retirement Earnings

One of the best approaches to investing in your retirement is a diversified portfolio that contains stocks, bonds, personal savings, and tangible investments. This will provide the opportunity to gain large profits while also erring on the side of caution with safe investments. 

When it comes to investing, there are multiple ways to find out about stocks and tangible assets either through people with expertise or online sites. Use these available resources to make smart choices that in the end may help you increase your wealth in retirement.

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